PNP hiring 6,000 more cops

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will recruit 6,000 more policemen this year.

“This will be a big boost on our strength,” said Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome, PNP chief.

But Bartolome said only half of the total figure of the recruits can be considered as additional force to the 140,000-strong PNP since the other half will serve as replacements to those who are expected to retire, resign, and dismissed from the service.

Based on PNP records, an average of 3,000 policemen leave the organization for various reasons aside retirement, dismissal, and resgination.

The recruitment program is part of the modernization program of the PNP, in which P2 billion will be given to the organization for recruitment of additional personnel and procurement of equipment.

Bartolome also vowed to complete the firearms shortage in the PNP by the end of this year. Only 63 percent of the entire police force has firearms issued by the PNP.

Of the common problems of the PNP, Bartolome admitted that it is the policeman to population ratio which is difficult to attain. The ideal police to population ratio is 1:500. At present, it is 1:740. (Aaron B. Recuenco)